53.4% of pediatric patients admitted to the transition unit met WHO eligibility criteria for palliative care, underscoring significant care integration gaps.
A high proportion of pediatric patients in hospital-to-home transition units have complex chronic conditions and meet criteria for palliative care, highlighting the need for structured screening protocols.
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Introduction: Children with complex chronic conditions (CCC) represent an increasingly prevalent and vulnerable group in pediatric care, accounting for a substantial proportion of hospital admissions and health care expenditures worldwide. These children frequently experience fragmented care and limited coordination during the transition from hospital to home, which may worsen symptom burden and increase the risk of readmission. Early identification of palliative care needs in this population is essential to improving continuity, quality, and equity of care. Objective: To describe the clinical and sociodemographic profile of pediatric patients admitted to a Brazilian hospital transition unit and to assess their eligibility for palliative care. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 249 unique pediatric patients admitted between March 2024 and March 2025. Readmissions were counted as separate events. Data were extracted from electronic medical records and included sociodemographic variables, clinical characteristics, and eligibility for palliative care. Descriptive statistics were complemented by chi-square tests for categorical variables and Kruskal–Wallis tests for nonparametric group comparisons. Results: The analysis revealed that almost 80% ( n = 198) of patients had at least one CCC; notably, 23.3% ( n = 58) required technological support. Longer hospital stays were significantly associated with higher palliative care eligibility ( p < 0.01). According to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, 53.4% of patients met Group 2 eligibility for pediatric palliative care. Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of CCC among children admitted to a hospital-to-home transition unit and reveals a persistent gap in care integration within the Brazilian health system. The findings underscore the need for structured protocols to actively screen for palliative needs in transitional pediatric settings. Implementing WHO-based checklists, combined with multidisciplinary team training, may support early identification, appropriate referral, and coordinated, family-centered care during the transition from hospital to home.
Rocha et al. (Sun,) reported a other. 53.4% of pediatric patients admitted to the transition unit met WHO eligibility criteria for palliative care, underscoring significant care integration gaps.
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